Golf round-up:Branden Grace claimed the Volvo China Open title as a final-round 69 left him three shots clear of the rest of the field at the Binhai Lake Golf Club in Tianjin.
The 23-year-old South African, who won two European Tour events on native soil at the start of the year, carded four birdies against one bogey in his final round to claim the €400,000 first prize.
Belgium’s Nicolas Colsaerts was second after matching Grace’s last-day round, while Englishman Richard Finch was third, a further shot back.
Grace said: “I stayed really calm today. I kept hitting the ball well. I missed a couple of shots the first couple of holes but regrouped well and made the birdies where it counts on the par fives, and just stayed with it from there.
“I thought my first win was around the corner (this season). To have three before May is literally unbelievable, but I’ve been playing well so I’ve been feeling like I can win and I’ve been giving myself opportunities. I’m definitely here to win every week I play now.”
Former champion Damien McGrane closed with a 68 to finish on 11 under and a cheque for €24,500, but Shane Lowry faltered on the final day ad carded a 74 to finish on six under.
Michael Hoey finished on four under after a 71, with Peter Lawrie a shot further after a similar closing round. Gareth Maybin shot a 74 to end the week on two under.
World number three Lee Westwoodsuccessfully defended his Indonesian Masters title after completing 32 holes at the Royale Jakarta Golf Club on Sunday.
The English golfer Briton returned to complete his third round before closing with a two-over-par 74 for a winning total of 16-under-par 272 in the weather-hit tournament.
Former Asian number one Thaworn Wiratchant finished two strokes adrift after carding 67 while the Indian duo of Gaganjeet Bhullar and Shiv Kapur shared third place a further two shots behind.
"Today was hard. It is never easy playing in these conditions and I had to play 32 holes," said Westwood who went into the final round with an eight-shot lead.
"It was draining out there and I was really feeling it on the back nine. When you are in contention and under pressure, it seems to zap your energy faster.
"You never know how to play with such a big lead. You don't know if you should attack or defend. It is quite hard to get your mental attitude around it.
"Hopefully this will kick-start my year. I've played well without any wins so hopefully I can go on and win other tournaments."
Meanwhile,
former British Open Championship winner Ben Curtiswill take a three-shot lead into the final round of the Valero Texas Open as he looks to end a six-year title wait.
The 34-year-old American extended his overnight lead by a single stroke despite an erratic round of 73 that included a pair of double bogeys.
Curtis had been flawless through the opening two days at TPC San Antonio, but he fell foul of the treacherous conditions from the start as he took six to double bogey the first.
It got worse with a seven at the par-five eighth, to go out in 39, but he bounced back with three birdies and a bogey after the turn which proved enough to extend his lead at nine under.
Curtis saw his closest challenger and playing partner David Mathis implode with a five-over 77, to leave Matt Every as the closest challenger on six under.
Every, who shot a course-record 63 on the opening day, kept in contention with a 73 combining three bogeys with a pair of birdies. The 28-year-old is yet to win on the PGA Tour.
On a day of high scoring John Huh defied the numbers to go around in the day’s equal-best round of five-under 67 and be in a tie for third on four under with South Korean duo Charlie Wi and Noh Seung-yul.
Matt Kuchar, who finished in a tie for third at the Masters, joined Huh in shooting 67 to join Mathis in a group of five players on three under, but with six shots to make up today he has a mountain to climb.
